How VMWare Kernel different from other kernels?

VMWare kernel is a proprietary kernel that means that it is a registered kernel by VMWare Company and it is not
based on any other kernel architecture or any other operating system. VMWare consists of a kernel that requires
an operating system to boot it. A service console is being provided when VMWare kernel is booted.
What are the features provided by VMWare for easy access?
VMWare provides several features to make it easy for the user to access and maintain it. The features are as
follows:
VMWare provides web browser interface
It provides easy to use wizard to configure the settings
It provides tools to easily create hosts and maintain it from one place
It provides easy maintenance of Virtual machines
It provides easy graphics to configure the VMWare settings for security
What are the features of VMWare Player?
VMWare player is a stand-alone player that comes with the installation of VMWare also. The features that make it
more popular are as follows:

Creation of virtual machines can be done with easy install options. The creation and installation can be done
directly to the system.
VMWare Player can run any virtual machine and it can be used by anyone, anywhere. It allows quick and easy
access, to take the advantage of security, portability and flexibility to manage the virtual machines.
VMWare player allows sharing of virtual machines with other computers or users.
What are the different components used in VMWare infrastructure?
The different and major components used in VMWare infrastructure is as follows:
1. VMWare infrastructure consists of the lowest layer which acts as a ESX server host.
2. VMWare infrastructure also use the virtual centre server that keep tracks of all the VM related images and
manage it from one point.
3. VMWare infrastructure (VI) client: this allows the client to interact with user's applications that are running on
VMWare.
4. Web browser is used to access the virtual machines.
5. License server is used to create a server that provides licensing to the applications
6. Database servers are used to maintain a database.


1. VMWare Kernel is a Proprietary Kenral and is not based on any of the UNIX operating systems, it's a kernel
developed by VMWare Company.

2. The VMKernel can't boot it by itself, so that it takes the help of the 3rd party operating system. In VMWare case
the kernel is booted by RedHat Linux operating system which is known as service console.


3. The service console is developed based up on Redhat Linux Operating system, it is used to manage the
VMKernel


4. To restart webaccess service on vmware
service vmware-webaccess restart this will restart apache tomcat app


5. To restart ssh service on vmware
service sshd restart


6. To restart host agent(vmware-hostd) on vmware esx server
service mgmt-vmware restart


7. Path for the struts-config.xml
/usr/lib/vmware/webAccess/tomcat/apache-tomcat-5.5.17/webapps/ui/WEB-INF/



8. To start the scripted install the command is
esx ks=nfs:111.222.333.444:/data/KS.config ksdevice=eth0
location device name


9. Virtual Network in Simple.

Virtual Nic(s) on Virtual Machine(s) ----->

Physical Nic on the ESX Server (Virtual Switch - 56 Ports) ----->

Physical Switch Port Should be trunked with all the VLANS to which the VM's need access

All the ESX servers should be configured with Same number of Physical Nics (vSwitches) and Connectivity also
should be same, So that vMotion succeeds
All the Virtual Machines are connected to one vSwitch with Different VLANS, this means the Physical Nic(vSwitch)
needs to be trunked with the same VLANS on the Physical Switch Port



10 What are the three port groups present in ESX server networking
1. Virtual Machine Port Group - Used for Virtual Machine Network
2. Service Console Port Group - Used for Service Console Communications
3. VMKernel Port Group - Used for VMotion, iSCSI, NFS Communications


11. What is the use of a Port Group?
The port group segregates the type of communication.


12. What are the type of communications which requires an IP address for sure ?
Service Console and VMKernel (VMotion and iSCSI), these communications does not happen without an ip
address (Whether it is a single or dedicated)


13. In the ESX Server licensing features VMotion License is showing as Not used, why?
Even though the license box is selected, it shows as "License Not Used" until, you enable the VMotion option for
specific vSwitch

14. How the Virtual Machineort group communication works ?
All the vm's which are configured in VM Port Group are able to connect to the physical machines on the network.
So this port group enables communication between vSwitch and Physical Switch to connect vm's to Physical
Machine's


15. What is a VLAN ?
A VLAN is a logical configuration on the switch port to segment the IP Traffic. For this to happen, the port must
be trunked with the correct VLAN ID.

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16. Does the vSwitches support VLAN Tagging? Why?
Yes, The vSwitches support VLAN Tagging, otherwise if the virtual machines in an esx host are connected to
different VLANS, we need to install a separate physical nic (vSwitch) for every VLAN. That is the reason vmware
included the VLANtagging for vSwitches. So every vSwitch supports upto 1016 ports, and BTW they can support
1016 VLANS if needed, but an ESX server doesnt support that many VMs. :)


17. What is Promiscuous Mode on vSwitch ? What happens if it sets to Accept?
If the promiscuous mode set to Accept, all the communication is visible to all the virtual machines, in other
words all the packets are sent to all the ports on vSwitch
If the promiscuous mode set to Reject, the packets are sent to inteded port, so that the intended virtual
machine was able to see the communication.

18. What is MAC address Changes ? What happens if it is set to Accept ?
When we create a virtual machine the configuration wizard generates a MAC address for that machine, you can
see it in the .vmx (VM Config) file. If it doesn't matches with the MAC address in the OS this setting does not allow
incoming traffic to the VM. So by setting Reject Option both MAC addresses will be remains same, and the
incoming traffic will be allowed to the VM.


19. What is Forged Transmits ? What happens if it is set to Accept ?
When we create a virtual machine the configuration wizard generates a MAC address for that machine, you can
see it in the .vmx (VM Config) file. If it doesn't matches with the MAC address in the OS this setting does not allow
outgoing traffic from the VM. So by setting Reject Option both MAC addresses will be remains same, and the
outgoing traffic will be allowed from the VM.


20. What are the core services of VC ?
VM provisioning , Task Scheduling and Event Logging


21. Can we do vMotion between two datacenters ? If possible how it will be?
Yes we can do vMotion between two datacenters, but the mandatory requirement is the VM should be powered
off.


22. What is VC agent? and what service it is corresponded to? What are the minimum req's for VC agent
installation ?
VC agent is an agent installed on ESX server which enables communication between VC and ESX server.
The daemon associated with it is called vmware-hostd , and the service which corresponds to it is called as mgmt-
vmware, in the event of VC agent failure just restart the service by typing the following command at the service
console

" service mgmt-vmware restart "
VC agent installed on the ESX server when we add it to the VC, so at the time of installtion if you are getting an
error like " VC Agent service failed to install ", check the /Opt size whether it is sufficient or not.


23. How can you edit VI Client Settings and VC Server Settings ?
Click Edit Menu on VC and Select Client Settings to change VI settings
Click Administration Menu on VC and Select VC Management Server Configuration to Change VC Settings

24. What are the files that make a Virtual Machine ?
.vmx - Virtual Machine Configuration File
.nvram - Virtual Machine BIOS
.vmdk - Virtual Machine Disk file
.vswp - Virtual Machine Swap File
.vmsd - Virtual MAchine Snapshot Database
.vmsn - Virtual Machine Snapshot file
.vmss - Virtual Machine Suspended State file
.vmware.log - Current Log File
.vmware-#.log - Old Log file


25. What are the devices that can be added while the virtual Machine running
In VI 3.5 we can add Hard Disk and NIC's while the machine running.

In vSphere 4.0 we can add Memory and Processor along with HDD and NIC's while the machine running


26. How to set the time delay for BIOS screen for a Virtual Machine?
Right Click on VM, select edit settings, choose options tab and select boot option, set the delay how much you
want.


27. What is a template ?
We can convert a VM into Template, and it cannot be powered on once its changed to template. This is used to
quick provisioning of VM's.


23. What to do to customize the windows virtual machine clone,?
copy the sysprep files to Virtual center directory on the server, so that the wizard will take the advantage of it.


24. What to do to customize the linux/unix virtual machine clone,?
VC itself includes the customization tools, as these operating systems are available as open source.


25. Does cloning from template happens between two datacenters ?
Yes.. it can, if the template in one datacenter, we can deploy the vm from that template in another datacenter
without any problem.


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26. What are the common issues with snapshots? What stops from taking a snapshot and how to fix it ?
If you configure the VM with Mapped LUN's, then the snapshot failed. If it is mapped as virtual then we can take a
snapshot of it.
If you configure the VM with Mapped LUN's as physical, you need to remove it to take a snapshot.


27. What are the settings that are taken into to consideration when we initiate a snapshot ?
Virtual Machine Configuration (What hardware is attached to it)
State of the Virtual Machine Hard Disk file ( To revert back if needed)
State of the Virtual Machine Memory (if it is powered on)


28. What are the requirements for Converting a Physical machine to VM ?
An agent needs to be installed on the Physical machine
VI client needs to be installed with Converter Plug-in
A server to import/export virtual machines


29. What is VMWare consolidated backup ?
It is a backup framework, that supports 3rd party utilities to take backups of ESX servers and Virtual Machines. Its
not a backup service.


30. To open the guided consolidation tool, what are the user requirements ?
The user must be member of administrator, The user should have "Logon as service" privileges - To give a user
these privileges,open local sec policy, select Logon as service policy and add the user the user should have read
access to AD to send queries
- See more at: http://www.01world.in/p/vmware-admin-interview-questions.html#sthash.fZNz9nVe.dpuf